Prewash and if so, how?
#1
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Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Ellijay, GA
Posts: 2
Prewash and if so, how?
I am making a rag quilt for my grandson out of old denim and new plaid flannels. I am told the flannel needs to be prewashed. Do I do this is the machine? Will it not start it to raveling even before I use it? I remember when I was in high school home economics when we used to "relax the fabric" by stitching all the way around it, wetting it. smoothing it out on a counter and letting it air dry. Is this what they mean about prewashing the flannel? I'm ready to start cutting, so I need help as soon as possible. Thanks a bunch!
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: kannapolis, nc
Posts: 392
It wouldn't hurt to wash and dry the flannel twice before using it. The denim is old and has been washed and dried many times so there will be no shrinking at all. Like Tom W said just run a quick zig zag or serge the ends of the flannel. The flannel won't shrink unless it is dried in the dryer.
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: greater NorthEast
Posts: 3,004
I used flannel scraps once to piece the back of a puff/biscuit quilt. Did not preshrink or wash flannel. Has been washed many times since the 90's and is still intact. I am sure the makeup of today's flannel is nearly the same...but I think if was using flannel today I would definitely stay stich the edges {if it was new}, but I would wash in COLD water and let it air dry anywhere BUT a dryer!
#5
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Mableton, GA
Posts: 11,330
I wash and dry flannel twice before using it. It hasn't raveled much at all, but it does shrink some and gives off a lot of fuzz in the dryer vent, both times, and then when I wash the quilt. But, the flannel wears well over time.
#7
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
Here's a post from a couple days ago with more info:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...k-t262277.html
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...k-t262277.html
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